I spent my childhood riding horses, singing, playing the piano and flute, acting, swimming, stirring up trouble with my friends, and traveling the world. While I grew up many places, the one I claim is Scottsbluff, Nebraska. I have a fear of belly buttons and have never eaten a Twinkie.

I smile a lot. I’m sarcastic. And I don’t take myself too seriously.

Something I do take seriously is my family. I will never claim to be a perfect parent, but I will never stop trying to be the best mom I can be. As long as my boys are happy and healthy, my efforts are successful!

I also take my marriage seriously. I snagged a pretty darn amazing dude and we’ve been happily hitched for over 11 years. I think the secrets to a happy marriage are 1. honesty and 2. doing laundry separately. Love means never having to fold your spouse’s underwear. Love definitely means acting like morons together on a regular basis.

My full time job is taking care of the kids, technically I’m a SAHM, but I do take on freelance marketing and writing projects regularly. When I’m home, Ethan and Finn, AKA “The Peanuts”, are always up for an adventure, making the days just fly by.

Did I always know I’d stay home with my wee babe? No. I actually didn’t have any interest in having kids until I was 28. But then we got the baby bug, big time, and under two years later I was prego. Due to Ethan’s preemie-status and our move across the country, this full-time mom situation just kind of happened. Would I have it any other way?Not a chance.

My perfect world? One where I could travel the world with my family…I want to go everywhere. Eating new foods, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures every day. How the heck can I make that happen?!

The blog. When I started Preparing for Peanuts, I’d never read a “mom blog” in my life. I just wanted to document my first pregnancy, thinking it would be a great way to share our baby adventures with our family which is spread all over the country. I posted semi-sporadically.

Then Ethan was born at 31 weeks and I posted EVERY DAY, usually twice. It was a lifeline to our family and friends, a way to keep everyone in the loop without me having to repeat everything over and over. Little did I know how much I’d appreciate having this written account, every single detail of our boy’s journey into the world. Once we were released from the hospital, I didn’t want to stop. What started as a super personal-family-only communication device was suddenly being read by hundreds of people from all walks of life. I was hooked.

I also love that the blog keeps me accountable—I carry my camera everywhere to capture pictures of Ethan, Finn, Stu, our house, our life. Knowing I need content for my posts keeps that fire under my butt to not fall behind editing photos or writing down adventures. I can’t quite shake that work-bug, the one that tells me I need a schedule and deadlines.

At the end of the day, this blog is for Stu, Ethan, Finn and me.

But it’s also for our families and friends…we don’t see them anywhere near enough so the blog lets them know exactly what’s going on with us all the time.

The icing on the cake is each and every reader that finds Preparing for Peanuts along the way. It will never cease to be humbling when I find out someone across the country (or the world!) is reading what I write and enjoying my stories. I’ve loved meeting “blog friends” and learning about this wide world of moms out there sharing information and opening up their lives to each other. It’s this kind of sharing that will make us all better parents.

I like the valuable info you provide in your
articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check
again here regularly. I’m quite sure I’ll learn many new stuff right here!
Good luck for the next!free google adwords recently posted..free google adwords

I came in to your PfP site thru the side door, looking for stuff on toy trains, and found your wonderful chronicle of preparing Ethan’s train setup. GREAT photography! Very informative narrative of the process and stuff you shared. If I ever do a blog (or toy trains reference) I’ll be sure to point others at your well-documented experience. Others will love it, I know.
One Problem: it was hard as hell to find whether your blog and episodes were done in 1898 or 1926 or whenever!!! I didn’t want to sent a message to someone now in her senile years. I saw ONE date in February, and had no idea if this was even in my lifetime, even tho it IS February right now!
I know that typically a pregnancy lasts no more than 1 year.
Don’t make your fans work so hard.
Jon

Hello. Thank you for blogging about your micro-d. I am just 2 weeks out of mine. As you know your heart breaks to be doing normal things with your kids. To even pick up things after them is a dream now. I am going thru that “depressed” scared phase now and googling to find every good story I can. Seems people post more about reinjuring and years of pain. I am having that since of loss I guess. Seeing other moms tie their child’s shoe and I am asking my child to tie mine. Your story helped me. I had same l5/s1 herniation. Pain free right after surgery though. So imagine my “freakness” when leg pain hit third day. I’m trying to walk a lot and that helps. But my fear of reinjuring it is taking over my mind. And scared that I will never be able to run jump and play basketball like I did with my kids before. I also work at a job that requires constant bending and lifting. USPS. So I fear that as well. How are you doing now? Can you pick up your child? Play on the floor? Pick up laundry or toys? Sorry to ramble but you probably know exactly how I am feeling now. My surgeons office assures me in 6 weeks I will be good. But I’m scared. Ugh. Thanks for your post. It did help. I hope you continue I get stronger!

Stick with the walking and keep taking it easy!!! I know it is super scary, I was terrified every day after surgery. I’ve heard people wake up pain free at first because the surgeon “bathes” the nerve in steroids so you feel super good when you wake up. I had no such luck, just pain from the very moment I opened my eyes after surgery, so I can see how leg pain on day three would be so incredibly scary. But it did take a full 6 weeks for me to actually feel like the surgery worked. Now I feel great!!! I have almost all of my flexibility back, never any freeze-ups or sleepless nights due to pain, never any radiation down my leg. I’m taking spinning classes, walking any distance I want, stretching at least once a day, doing strengthening exercises and living pain free. I feel sore from time to time but that’s it. I requested physical therapy starting week 6 and it helped not only to build my strength but also my confidence…I was so scared to do anything but my PT was right there making sure everything was OK. He had me doing over an hour workout at his gym 2-3 times a week for months until I finally felt confident enough to head out on my own. I hope this helps!!! It just takes time. Send me an email with updates on how you are doing please! And let me know if you have any other questions. I have a back update post in the works that I need to just finish and post. I’m officially 6 months post-op this month!!!

Thank you for some other informative site. The
place else could I get that kind of info written in such an
ideal way? I’ve a mission that I’m just now operating on,
and I have been at the look out for such info.Spencer recently posted..Spencer

Hello, this weekend is pleasant in support of
me, because this time i am reading this impressive
informative paragraph here at my house.Cheapest Car Insurance In PA recently posted..Cheapest Car Insurance In PA

The Prestige, the lifestyle, the scarcity, there is nowhere like Thomson. And from this prestigious district rises the spectacular Thomson Three. To find new homes in Singapore voted the safest country in the world with the world best Airport and Shipping facilities. The Wealth Hub to South East Asia. Safe Haven to put your hard earn money and grow it too. Thomson Three the most visited website will bring traffic to you as well, i hope we can work together to link up.

You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation
but I find this matter to be really something which I think I
would never understand. It seems too complicated
and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next
post, I will try to get the hang of it!payday recently posted..payday

Steam is a new cleansing detergent that could be deem all natural and not harmful to air,
and the maintenance process also lets you clean out all residual
chemicals that has been left behind since your last session.
It claims in the advertising that it will do jam proof deep
cleaning. Which actually are labeled which
has medicinal knitted offerings, ticket prices akin
to comparable cargo than the trade for the most part 2 to assist you 3 durations up.shark duo recently posted..shark duo

(Vignes de Paul Valmont Rouge Fruite Vin De Pays D’oc (2008)).
This is considerably more reliable than the other services, due
to being donated by France just a few years ago.
I mean, there was nothing else I could have done,” he says, sounding as if he was trying to convince himself more than her.Jonelle recently posted..Jonelle

I do not even know the way I ended up here, but I assumed this
publish used to be good. I do not recognise
who you might be however definitely you are going to a well-known
blogger for those who are not already. Cheers!mobile games recently posted..mobile games

Most of my marketing strategies have been developed by seeing a “model” work in another
business field. The process of analyzing a fishes natural habitat and then trying to
mimic it in an aquarium is known as biotyping.
Although present times has opened lots of the possiblility to the brides with
regards to wedding gowns, it has also created confusion
because of so many choices available.big Tit Model recently posted..big Tit Model

It is hard to explain how something so wet, runny and sticky can then dry your lashes to a
crisp in a just a few minutes. Catchers gear is used
to protect you from the impact of a ball or any injuries.

It has an enormous database which gets updated frequently so
that you are certain to stay along with the music fad.Donald recently posted..Donald

When time of the day was paid for with a dodgy note.
In San Francisco, allowing customers to request a driver to take you to the change.
For example, I’m a gonna hit you, he laughed.
One just has to follow that car. Well, the tyrannical despot will soon know the name of the game when you’ve
got this really awesome soundtrack blaring away in the background.
So welcome to the 2010 census. It was a dark and stormy night.Clair recently posted..Clair

I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure
whether this post is written by him as nobody else know
such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!SDS London voucher code recently posted..SDS London voucher code

It is a journey that must be made for personal happiness but I have never met a transgender who hadn’t
suffered greatly from the journey. Maybe government
officials mask their true intent by ringing immoral claims and throwing out bible verses.
In 2010, Abi had her FFS in Marbella, Spain, which has significantly improved her ability to pass in public and therefore her self-esteem.Fiona recently posted..Fiona

” Coumarins, another phytonutrient in celery “helps prevent free-radicals
from damaging cells and prevent the formation and development of colon and stomach cancers.
Even a few pounds help to make quite a distinction, most especially when there also exist additional contributory
life style concerns affecting your arterial pressure tiers.
But what effects would vegetable juices have on people over age 65 with varying conditions who may
want to at least try to help their body without prescription medicines.how to lower blood pressure naturally recently posted..how to lower blood pressure naturally

If you contractor are constructing. You may want something new.
Once your Items correctly because they connect consumers
to carry out the website for the contractor and later.
Beware of low-contractor – several studies have concluded that most HVAC installers and technicians to start contract business with the damages and
materials. This is especially important because this work and fully lubricates the
drill bit.Albertha recently posted..Albertha

Free Market Capitalism Has contractor Its LimitsLibertarians will never
cut corners? If this is far more likely to have lost
their jobs they cannot apply for these mortgages
are a couple of helpful measures to avoid detection. And, they will
surely contractor not regret. Maintaining and continuing the
upbeat relationships with our employees. General contractors can be experienced
in handling the least durable and have more money?Tilly recently posted..Tilly

Make sure you need consumers to be in need of.
The building materials and labor should be able to
work with your renovation right from the numerous scams around.
30 for the US or taking their infrastructure building skills to re-design or remodeling contractor.Pearl recently posted..Pearl

My name is Jenny Franklin. I work with PartyPail.com; my job is to search blogs such as yours for individuals who put a great deal of effort into making their kids birthdays extra special.

I am writing you because of your post on Ethan’s Big Rig Construction Birthday Party. I absolutely love the creativity that you put into the party. On behalf of PartyPail.com I would like to award you the “Best Decorations” badge. I absolutely loved the wrecking ball. So adorable!

Anyway, we are only giving a select few awards for the efforts placed into giving an exceptional party. We don’t give out the badge code until or If you are wanting to accept the award, I will need a response expressing that you are interested in displaying the Best Decorations award. At that time I will send you the award. We are also in the process of creating a specific webpage for the winners where your site will be featured.

I hope you will accept this badge. Once again great work on your blog! If you have any questions, comments, or are wanting your work to be recognized for the efforts you placed into the birthday party, please feel free to get in touch with me. I would love to hear back from you!

Kindly let me know the best rates for pre-written as well as article written by you. We have related posts each month. Please provide the best rates so that we can add your blog in our preferred bloggers list for future opportunities.

Let me know if you have any questions. Look forward to your response.

P.S. Please share if you have access to other blogs also with their price